AP: FBI investigates Sen. John Ensign's sex-and-money scandal

The FBI is investigating Sen. John Ensign, who has acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a former campaign aide and arranging for his parents to pay the woman nearly $100,000, the Associated Press reports, citing an anonymous source.

Ensign disclosed the affair with Cynthia Hampton in June. Her husband, Doug Hampton, also worked for Ensign as a top staffer in his Senate office and said the Republican senator later arranged for him to find work as a lobbyist.

Rebecca Fisher, an Ensign spokeswoman, declined to tell the AP whether Ensign had talked with the FBI. Officials with the FBI in Las Vegas also declined comment.

The AP goes on to say:

A person familiar with the FBI's review said agents recently contacted Ensign's former co-chief of staff, John Lopez. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the FBI's involvement and said the FBI did not issue a subpoena but only contacted Lopez. The person would not provide any other details about the FBI's discussions with Lopez.

In an ABC interview in late November, Hampton said no one from the FBI or Justice Department had contacted him. He discussed details about the affair and asserted his belief that ethics laws were broken. Hampton's attorney declined to comment Tuesday whether the FBI has contacted Hampton since the interview in November.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

About Catalina Camia

Catalina Camia leads the OnPolitics online community and has been at USA TODAY since 2005. She has been a reporter or editor covering politics and Congress for two decades, including stints at The Dallas Morning News and Congressional Quarterly. Follow her at @USATOnPolitics.